ENTRY FORM

Terms & Conditions

Submission Requirements

• Entry forms, entry fees, and books must be received no later than 4pm Friday 20 March.

• Upon completing the submission form, you will be directed to the entry fee payment portal. If you are not directed to the payment portal, you can access it here. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact operations@marion.ink for assistance.

• A separate entry form and fee are required for each unique submission.

• Entrants will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission of their entry form, payment, and book copies.

Judging criteria

Across all categories, we ask judges to consider which entries stand out in their brilliance and demonstrate the following:

• Literary excellence

• Powerful narrative structure

• Considered and impactful use of language

Eligibility

• Only writers based in the ACT region and surrounding areas are eligible to apply. For the purposes of these awards, this region is defined as (see map).

• The submitted book must have been first published between 1 January and 31 December 2025. Reprints or subsequent editions are not eligible.

• The author’s name must appear on the book cover or the copyright page to be eligible.

• Entries must be the original work of no more than two (2) authors.

  • In the Children’s category, the author must meet eligibility requirements to apply.

  • The illustrator of an eligible children’s book is not required to live within the ACT region.

• AI-generated works are not eligible for entry.

• Writers of any age, writing in English, are welcome to enter.

• Works may be entered posthumously, either by the author’s family or by the publisher with permission from the author’s family.

Entry Fees & Refunds

• Entry fees are non-refundable, including in cases where:

  • An entrant withdraws their submission for any reason.

  • An entry is deemed ineligible under these terms and conditions.

  • Books will not be returned if an entry is deemed ineligible.

Publication Categories

• Self-published publications refer to books independently published by the author.

• Traditionally published books refer to those released by publishing companies and organisations, including:

  • Non-profit organisations that publish books as an adjunct to their public purpose (e.g. AIATSIS Aboriginal Studies Press, CSIRO, National Library of Australia, National Museum of Australia).

  • Independent publishers, large and small, such as Allen & Unwin, HarperCollins, Recent Work Press, ANU Press, and others.

• The Children’s category includes picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult fiction.

Submission Format

• Only print books are eligible; ebooks are not accepted.

• Two (2) copies of the book must be submitted via post.

• Postal entries must have been received by 23 March at the latest. MARION is not responsible for lost or delayed submissions.

Copyright & Promotional Use

• By entering, authors grant MARION permission to use book cover images, author names, and brief excerpts for promotional purposes. Authors retain full copyright over their work.

Prizes & Recognition

• Winners will receive certificates as part of the 2026 ACT Literary Awards ceremony.

• Book category winners may receive a monetary prize.

Judging & Administration

• A panel of experienced professionals is preselected to judge award categories each year.

• The same judging criteria apply to all entries, regardless of whether the book is traditionally or self-published.

• MARION staff and board members are not eligible to enter.

  • Former MARION staff and board members may apply only after three (3) months from the end of their engagement.

• The exact spelling entered on the submission form will be used for shortlisting and award certificates. Please ensure accuracy.

• MARION reserves the right to disqualify any entry found to be in breach of these terms and conditions, even after submission.